Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-09-16
Mr.. GIadstone's Letter TO the
constitutional CommiSSion--
Ireland in Need Of All His
Time.

The Constitutional Centennial
Commission have made public Mr..
Gladstone's letter of declination of
the invitation to attend the celebra-
ton this week Mr. Gladatone was
invited as the guest of the committee,
ard he was informed that it was the
only one sent to any person not an
American citizen or an accre dited
diplomat, the exception in his case
being intended as an express recogni-
tion of the historical ties which
bound Great Britain and America be-
fore the declaration of independence
He was also assured that he would be
allowed to make whatever arrange
ments he pleased and would be enter
tanned in America as no man has
been since the visit of General La
fayette.
The following is Mr. Gladstone's
reply, which is dated London July
20, and addressed to the chairman
at Philadelphia.
GENTLEMEN: | have had the great
honor to receive your invitation to
attend the approaching cele bration of
the centenary of the American Con-
stitution. The attractions of this
invitation are enhanced to to me by
the circumstance that | have always
regarded that Constitution as the
most remarkable work known to me
in modern times to have been pro-
duced by the human intellect, at a
single stroke, so to speak, in its ap-
plication to political affairs.
The Invitation has also been ac-
companied with every accessory which
even American hospitality could de-
wise. Had l q real option in the case
1 could not but accept it; but the
limitations of my strength and time
and the incessant pressure of my en-
gagements from day to day make me
too we'll aware that / have none
So far as | am able to foresee, or
free to decide, the whole of the small
residue of activity which remains at
my command in connection with
state affairs is dedicated to the prose-
cution of a great work at home. !
regard the Irish question as the most
urgent in it's demands, and as the
most full of the promise of widely
beneficial results for my country in
which | have been engaged. l have,
therefore, no remaining fund of time,
or capacity for public exertion, on
which to draw. l ought, perhaps, to
add that, viewing the jealousies prev
alent at this time in England, L am
doubtful whether those jealousies
might not for the moment be stimu-
lated were | to accept the distinction
you offer me, not less signal than un-
deserved.
The first of these reasons, however,
is that which removes from me free
dom of moral choice in this matter,
and compels me to decline the most
iattering proposal l ever have re-
ceived.
l shall watch, gentlemen, with a
profound interest, the proceedings at
your celebration, when you will have
to look back upon a century of na-
tional advancement without parallel
in history, and to look forward to its
probable continuance upon a still
larger scale, with an accumulation of
high duties and responsibilities pro-
portioned to an ever growing power
That you and your children may be
enabled by an Almighty worthily to
meet them is, and will be, | am con-
fdent, the prayer of your kinsmen on
this side of the water, who hope, nay,
who believe, that the moral relations
of the several portions of our race are
wisely destined to acquire, with the
lapse of time, On increasing harmony
ard closeness. beg to remain, gen.
tlemen,
Your faithful servant,
w. E. GLADSTONE.